Camel Group’s lead-acid battery plant and lead recycling plant in Hubei have resumed production

SHANGHAI, Mar 11 (SMM) – Leading Chinese battery producer—Camel Group said on Wednesday that its lead-acid battery plant and lead recycling plant in the COVID-19 epicentre of Hubei have resumed production after receiving approval from local authorities.

Hubei previously said March 11 was the earliest businesses in the province could resume work. Authorities Wednesday issued a notice that laid out industry categories that could or could not resume operations based on the level of health risk in the region.

The latest SMM survey showed that all lead-acid producers in China, except for those in Hubei, have reopened by Wednesday, and that operating rates at some of major producers have exceeded 70% as labour tightness eased after the end of self-quarantine period.

Some small lead-acid battery producers in Hebei and Henan and other regions remained shut until March, given labour and logistics issues. Their production suspended lasted for nearly two months.